American Music Awards 2012: The show

From Justin Bieber getting smooched to PSY and MC Hammer performing together, here are highlights from the AMAs.

By SFGate.com

on November 18, 2012 8:34 PM

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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Singer Justin Bieber was the night's big winner, with three awards. Here, he accepts the Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist award onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Justin Bieber was the night's big winner, with three awards. Here, he accepts the Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist award onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on ... more

Singer Usher kicked off the the 40th American Music Awards with a lasertastic performance at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Usher kicked off the the 40th American Music Awards with a lasertastic performance at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Singer Usher kicked off the the 40th American Music Awards with a... Photo-3759760.52672 - seattlepi.com

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Singer Carly Rae Jepsen performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Carly Rae Jepsen performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Taylor Swift accepts the award for Favorite Country Female Artist from presenter Eric Stonestreet at the 40th Annual American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP) less

Taylor Swift accepts the award for Favorite Country Female Artist from presenter Eric Stonestreet at the 40th Annual American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John ... more

(L-R) Presenters Lucy Hale and Phillip Phillips speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Presenters Lucy Hale and Phillip Phillips speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ... more

Singer Max George of The Wanted performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Max George of The Wanted performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Singer Max George of The Wanted performs onstage during the 40th... Photo-3759766.52672 - seattlepi.com

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(L-R) Singers Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes, Max George, and Jay McGuiness of The Wanted perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Singers Siva Kaneswaran, Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes, Max George, and Jay McGuiness of The Wanted perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in ... more

Rapper/singer Nicki Minaj accepts the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Rapper/singer Nicki Minaj accepts the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo ... more

(L-R) Presenters Stacy Keibler and Ne-Yo speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Presenters Stacy Keibler and Ne-Yo speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ... more

Singer Gwen Stefani of No Doubt performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Gwen Stefani of No Doubt performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Usher accepts the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Usher accepts the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin ... more

Singer Taylor Swift performs "I Knew You Were Trouble" onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Taylor Swift performs "I Knew You Were Trouble" onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin ... more

Singer Luke Bryan accepts the award for Favorite Country Male Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Luke Bryan accepts the award for Favorite Country Male Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by ... more

Singer Carly Rae Jepsen accepts the award for Old Navy New Artist of the Year onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Carly Rae Jepsen accepts the award for Old Navy New Artist of the Year onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. ... more

Singer Chester Bennington of Linkin Park performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Chester Bennington of Linkin Park performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ... more

Singer Pink performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Pink performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Singer Pink performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards... Photo-3759783.52672 - seattlepi.com

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Pink performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Pink performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Pink performs onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at... Photo-3759784.52672 - seattlepi.com

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(L-R) Presenters Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Presenters Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Kevin Richardson and AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, ... more

Singer Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

(L-R) Singer Christina Aguilera and rapper Pitbull perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Singer Christina Aguilera and rapper Pitbull perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin ... more

(L-R) Singer Justin Bieber accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album from presenter Luke Bryan onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Singer Justin Bieber accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album from presenter Luke Bryan onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los ... more

And then this happened. Singer Justin Bieber accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album from Jenny McCarthy onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

And then this happened. Singer Justin Bieber accepts the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album from Jenny McCarthy onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 ... more

(L-R) Presenters Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Hayden Panettiere speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Presenters Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Hayden Panettiere speak onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by ... more

Recording artist Nicki Minaj accepts the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Recording artist Nicki Minaj accepts the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. ... more

Singer Carrie Underwood accepts the award for Favorite Country Music Album onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Carrie Underwood accepts the award for Favorite Country Music Album onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo ... more

Singer Chris Brown (L) and rapper Ludacris perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Chris Brown (L) and rapper Ludacris perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty ... more

(L-R) MC Hammer and singer PSY perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

(L-R) MC Hammer and singer PSY perform onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Singer Justin Bieber (R) accepts the award for Artist of the Year with his mom, Pattie Malette, onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) less

Singer Justin Bieber (R) accepts the award for Artist of the Year with his mom, Pattie Malette, onstage during the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, ... more